When searching for help with chronic tension, it is time to listen to the body. Pay attention where exactly the tension is located, when it appears and how often.  Keep a journal about your discoveries; you might need to revisit them later.

Many years ago, I went to my regular doctor for a yearly checkup. I mentioned to him that I get tension headaches every 1-2 months and asked him for advise. I didn't have much hope to find a solution right away, since I would usually treat a condition like that with a more holistic approach. He suggested to take a hot shower in the mornings, while the headaches appear,  to let the hot water run down my spine from the top of the neck, to take the shower as hot as possible, to stand in the shower with my eyes closed for 3 - 5 minutes with the hot water running down my back.

When I tried this home remedy out I was totally surprised that it worked and experienced that my whole back seemed to relax under the pouring water and then the tension just eased away. I didn't expect the remedy to work but it did and significantly reduced my headaches so that I could function during the day.

So here are a few more methods to address chronic tension and headaches:

Ask the doctor
Even if you are like me and usually prefer a holistic approach, just run your condition by your doctor next time you see him/her and take into consideration what you learn. There is value to anti-inflammatory medication when having chronic tension or joint pain, it just has to be taken with a method and under medical guidance, not just sporadically.

Acupuncture
For certain chronic conditions, especially tension headaches or migraine, really almost anything chronical, acupuncture can be invaluable. Make sure to find a very experienced acupuncturist, ask among your friends and family to find a great referral. If you have any concerns about the use of needles, know that they are hardly noticeable when placed on the body. I have been successfully treated with acupuncture for insomnia, chronic tonsillitis, ear infection and tension headaches. Nowadays, health insurance companies often cover the treatments partially. Acupuncture as an alternative to a western medical solution is totally undervalued.

Myofascial Release
As a massage therapist I often hear from my clients that they want the applied massage pressure to be as deep as possible. Deep pressure however is not always the most therapeutic solution, it really depends on the condition of the person.
So, Myofascial Release is quite the opposite to Deep Tissue work. It can be very beneficial for chronic muscle tension, especially right after an accident, which might have caused shoulder and neck trauma or whiplash. Myofascial Release gently opens up the muscle tissue, layer by layer. This method applies gentle stretch, the pressure is very light, the hands tend to go with the restricted tissue, hold the stretch, and allow the tissue to 'unwind' itself. The gentle traction will generate heat and increase blood flow in the area. The intention is to encourage the body for self correction and to re-establish healthy muscle tissue.

Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy is about treatment of the 2 most conflicted and likely to be traumatized areas in the body: the cranium and the sacrum (neck and lower back areas). I am a certified Craniosacral Therapist and use some of the techniques with each of my therapeutic swedish type of massages, because they are so helpful and can be applied to almost anybody. The craniosacral system is a gentle, light touch method of evaluating and enhancing the environment in which the brain and spinal cord function. By gently working with the spine, the skull and its cranial sutures and fascia, the restrictions of nerve passages can be eased, the movement of spinal fluid through the spinal cord can be optimized, and misaligned bones can be restored to their proper location.Treatments can be successful with chronic pain, TMJ, headaches, eye difficulties and scoliosis.

When trying to find the cause for the tension, you will most likely discover that to find a solution might take some time. It is very often the beginning of an enlightening journey.

There are many more roads to renewal and recovery to explore. Check out Neuromuscular Massage Therapy(NMT), Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, Tai-Chi, Qigong and Aromatherapy. Try them out and find out what's best for your body.